ISLAMABAD, March 9 (AP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was given detailed briefing regarding arrangements for Hajj 2017 by Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony here at the PM House on Thursday.
Sardar Muhammad Yusaf, Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, said that in line with the vision of the Prime Minister, there is remarkable improvement in arrangements of Haj during the last three years.
“The applications for Government Hajj Scheme increased from 86,919 in 2013 to 280,617 in 2016”, said the Minister. He said that the more than 300% increase in applications in three years is a testament of public confidence and trust in Government and its handling of hujjaj. While the Prime Minister appreciated the Ministry of Religious Affairs and its team lead by the Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yusaf their commendable work and efforts to facilitate hujjaj, he observed that there is always a room for further improvement and that the Religious Affairs Ministry should strive to make Haj arrangements more comfortable, better and cost-effective. “The visible improvement in facilities provided to Hujjaj in past three years has been acknowledged by all segments of society’, added the Prime Minister.
The annual Hajj agreement for the year 2017 has been signed with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the reduction in Hajj quota in 2013 due to expansion of Haram Sharif has been restored from 143,368 to 179,210.
Process of hiring of accommodation, transport, catering and other allied facilities has been initiated. The Saudi Hajj Ministry has also been requested to enhance the country’s quota by at least 15,000 on the basis of current population of Pakistan, the Prime Minister was briefed.
The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony to further improve the arrangements for Haj 2017 by taking initiatives for ensuring better facilities at the minimum possible cost. The PM further directed that special attention must be given to making arrangements at the airports, provision of three daily meals in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalfa, and general facilitation for Hujjaj in lodging and travelling. The Government will provide all the possible support to the Ministry for facilitating the guests of Allah in performing Hajj comfortably and securely. The Ministry of Religious Affairs must discharge its responsibilities with full devotion not only as an official duty but also a religious obligation of the highest order’, emphasized the PM.
It was also approved during the meeting that applicants who have performed Hajj during the last seven (07) years will not be eligible to apply for Hajj 2017 under Government Scheme while Hajj-e-Badal will be allowed only through Private Hajj scheme.
The meeting was also attended by Fawad Hassan Fawad, SPM, Khalid Masood Chaudhary, Secretary, Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony and other senior officials.
APP/Hamza/mka/ VNS Islamabad
